Cop in kidnap case shot dead

A police officer who was implicated in a kidnap for ransom case three years ago was shot dead by motorcycle-riding assassins in Tondo, Manila before dawn yesterday.

Authorities identified the victim as 43-year-old Police Officer 2 Frederick Tolentino, who, along with two other fellow officers, was linked to a kidnap for ransom case involving a South Korean national in 2014.

Manila Police District Director Joel Coronel said Tolentino, who was on floating status, was supposed to report to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on the day he was killed.

Tolentino was driving his vehicle along Quezon Street in Barangay 116 Zone 9 around 12:20 a.m. when the three suspects, on board two separate motorcycles appeared from behind and positioned themselves next to the victim’s vehicle.

The suspects then shot the victims several times before speeding off.

Case investigator PO3 Michael Maraggun said rough sketches of residences and Chinese names were found inside the victim’s car, which is the same vehicle that was used when they reportedly kidnapped Korean Hyun Yeo Koo in Pasay City in 2014.

Maraggun, however, said that they are still coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation to get updates on Tolentino’s case.